tocsin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a bell or bell signal sounded to warn people of danger

   The church bell rang as a tocsin when fire reached the village edge.

2. 2
   noun

   a warning that signals an approaching danger or crisis

   The abrupt bank failure sounded a tocsin for the wider financial system.

Borrowed from French tocsin, from Old French toquesain and ultimately Old Occitan tocasenh, a compound of tocar, 'to strike,' + senh, 'bell.' It first named an alarm sounded on a bell and later broadened to any grave warning.

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